We kept on running. We eventually got tired and walked. The trees barely gave us shade, so we were hot. The leaves crunched under our feet again. Every now and then a twig would snap. Mary jumped every time. Suddenly, Mary walked away from me. She threw up. She fell on her knees and started crying. She held her stomach. I kneeled beside her. She hugged me. "Do you want to ride on my shoulders?" I asked. She probably shouldn't be walking.

Soon, we were walking again. I was at least. Mary was on my shoulders. She told me her stomach hurt. I hoped it was just the apple or water and not the heat. Soon, we were in front of a swamp. It was muddy and roots from some of the trees popped up. I starting walking through it. I realized Mary was asleep. That was probably good. I looked up. It was getting late. Soon, it would be night. Suddenly, I saw an alligator. It was moving too.

I took off running. It chased me. The mud wouldn't let me run fast, but I managed to run anyway. The alligator eventually stopped chasing me. I sighed. I started walking. My legs were tired and I wanted to sleep. The swamp smell started getting worse. I realized I must be in the heart of the swamp.

The mud. The mud was disgusting and up to my knees. I could feel the mud on my socks. I must look horrible. I wanted to be home. Safe. I couldn't give up though. Mary would die. "For Mary," I kept whispering. My legs were aching, my shoulders hurt too. I looked up at the sky. The sun would set in about an hour.

As I walked, I heard something. I didn't think much of it at first, then I realized what it actually was-more gun shots. I ran to the closets tree. I made sure Mary was secure and I started to climb. It was really hard, but I eventually made it to a branch that could support Mary and me. I took Mary off my shoulders and leaned her against the trunk of the tree. I laid on my on my stomach, facing Mary. I put my head on my hands and fell asleep. I needed to.

-Dream-
I was lost in the woods. It was the same woods I got lost in when I was six. It must of been a memory. I was scared. I had to remember my grandpa's words. The same ones I told Mary. I looked up at the night sky. Wolves were howling, which scared me. I was shaking. I saw a shooting star. I didn't make a wish, but when I looked down, I saw my dad. I ran to him and gave him a big hug. He picked me up and starting bringing me back. "Daddy, Grandpa was right about the stars in the night sky," I told my dad. He knew what I was talking about.

"Of course he was right," said my dad.

-End of Dream-